Pants

ABSTRACT

A pant garment primarily for women having a top section positioned around the hips between the waist and place of maximum hip measurement, the top section having a tunnel across the back extending from one side of the pant to the other, a plurality of belt loops spaced across its front, and openings at its sides to the tunnel. A belt holds the top section around the hips and is threaded through the belt loops and tunnel. The top section is tapered and the belt elastic to conform to the curvature of the hips and the lower back of the body.

United States Patent [1 1 Cooke [45] Aug. 7, I973 [54] PANTS 3,161,890 12/1964 Betz 2/237 [75] Inventor: Ann V. Cooke, St. Louis, Mo. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73] Assigneez h Grove p y s Louis, Mo. 1,261,418 4/1961 France 2/237 1 Filed! p 29, 1971 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [21] APPL 184,793 Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins 57 ABSTRACT [52] U.S. CI. 2/237 1 51 Int. Cl u A pant garment primarily for women having a top sec- A41d 1/06 d d h b h d 58 Field of Search 2/237, 236, 221, g. e i

2/220, 76 227; [32/28, 29, 30 31 32, 33 34 p ace 0 maximum 1p measurement, t e top section having a tunnel across the back extending from one [561 CM 221;; 2 3053558525 232 22222112; ii'il liifii UNITED STATES PATENTS tunnel. A belt holds the top section around the hips and 3,143,741 8/1964 Tyroler 2/227 i thr ded through the belt loops and tunnel. The top 2 2 4/1970 8---- section is tapered and the belt elastic to conform to the i g'gig curvature of the hips and the lower back of the body.

172,100 1/1876 Eager 2/237 6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED M13 7 I975 M/ FIG.

[III

A, II'III all I PANTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to a novel pant construction and design primarily for women and particularly of the hip-hugger type to be worn down around the hips. A pant of this type presents unique problems in fit, for unlike a pant worn at the waist where the body surface is generally vertical, a pant worn at the hips must be made to conform to a tapered body surface due to the curveture of the hips and lower back of the body.

Further problems are presented where a belt is worn with the pant. Leather belts are stiff and tend to stand vertically away from the hips, particularly when one is sitting. Elastic belts, on the other hand, tend to ride up above the top of the pant between the belt loops, again particularly when one is sitting. The result has been pants that are uncomfortable and to some extent unattractive.

Hence, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel hip-hugger type pant primarily for women and which conforms to the curvature of the hips and presents a very smooth and comfortable fit as well as an exceptionally attractive appearance.

The pant of this invention can be of any suitable length and includes standard front and rear sections joined together to form the leg and lower hip portions of the pant as is conventional in the art, and a top section which is positioned around the hips between the waist and largest hip portions to hold up the pant. The

top section is formed in a tunnel that extends across the back from one side of thepant to the other and has a plurality of belt loops spaced across its front. The tunnel and belt loops are preferably sufficiently wide to receive a relatively wide belt. The top section, at the sides and back of the pant, is tapered inwardly toward the top to conform to the curvature of the hips and the lower back portion of the body. An elastic belt is threaded through the belt loops and the tunnel such that in the front the belt is exposed, but in the back the belt is completely hidden from view within the tunnel. The pant is made of a stretch material such as a single or double knit or stretch woven fabric which allows the top of the pant to be made smaller than the largest hip measurement to fit closely to that portion of the hips where the pant is worn, and also to provide a conformed fit in spite of variations in figures within a given size range. Although a fly or placket opening could be provided, it is one of the great advantages of this invention that such an opening is unnecessary. Any slight looseness of fit at the hip area where the pant is worn is easily taken up by the elastic belt, which actually supports and holds the top section of the pant around the hips. Additionally, the elastic material from which the belt is made allows it to stretch a progressively greater amount at its bottom than at'its top, thus cooperating with the top tapered section of the pant in producing a conformed and smooth fit, as well as a very attractive appearance. The tendency of the elastic belt to ride up above the top of the pant due to the curvature of the hips and lower back is held completely in check by the belt loops and particularly the tunnel that extends completely across the back of the pant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the pant of this invention as worn;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view in section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along the line 3-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the pant of this invention shown as worn; and

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1 .0.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawing there is shown the pant 10 of this invention. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing show one embodiment of the pant. The pant will be described as viewed from the person wearing it.

The pant M) can be of any suitable length and includes a right front section 12, a left front section 13, a right rear section 14, and a left rear section 15. The right front and rear sections l2 and M are joined at a right outside seam 17 extending from the top to the bottom of the pant, and a right inside seam 19 extending from the crotch to the bottom of the pant. The left side sections 13 and are likewise joined at a left outside seam 21 extending from the top to the bottom of the pant and a left inside seam 23 extending from the crotch to the bottom of the pant. The front sections 12 and 13 and the rear sections 14 and 15 are joined at a front seam 25 and a rear seam 27, respectively, extending from the top to the crotch.

The top of the pant is folded inwardly as at 31 and stitched as at 32 to form a relatively wide top section 33 having an outer fabric layer 341 and an inner fabric layer or facing 35. This double layer top section 33 actually extends completely around the top of the pant although only the back half is used as a belt tunnel as will be described.

The distance from the top section 33 and the crotch, called the rise, is such that the top section 33 fits around the hips between the waist and that portion of the hips of the largest dimension. It will be noted that the pant I0 is formed without the conventional fly or placket opening. It is one of the advantages of this invention to provide a close and conformed fit between the top section 33 and the body without the need for such an opening.

A plurality of darts M are formed in the top section at the back of the pant in a conventional manner, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, with the pant below the top section 33, and stitched as at 43. In this described embodiment, two darts are used, both in the back as shown in FIG. 3, to taper the top section 33 inward at its top to conform to the curvature of the hips and lower back. Since the stomach is flat, no darts are needed in the front.

A plurality of conventional belt loops are spaced across the front of the top section 33. In this described embodiment two such belt loops are provided: a belt loop 51 located approximately midway between the front seam 25 and the outer right seam 17, and a belt loop 52 located approximately midway between the front seam 25 and the outer left side seam 21. The belt loops 51 and 52 are attached by any suitable means such as stitching 53.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the top section 33 has openings 55 and 56 at the left and right sides, respectively, each opening being formed in an identical manner by folding a front flap 57 of the outer fabric layer 34 of the rear section inwardly and back, and securing the flap with stitching 58. In this way the opening 55 is formed on the left side of the pant between the layer 34 of the left front section 13 and the layer 34 of the left rear section 15, and the opening 56 is formed on the right side of the pant between the layer 34 of the right front section 12 and the layer 34 of the right rear section 14. The outer and inner layers 34 and 35 of the rear section 14 and 15 combine with the openings 55 and 56 to form a tunnel 59 across the back of the top section 33 to receive a belt 60. The belt 60 is made of elastic and includes a suitable buckle or clasp 61, and a suitable sliding device 63 for adjusting the length of the belt to the desired size. The belt 60 fits around the top section 33 within the tunnel 59 and the belt loops 5] and 52. It is one of the features of this invention that the belt 60 is made of elastic to expand more at the bottom than at the top to conform principally to the hips and lower back portion of the body.

The entire pant is made of a stretch material such as a single or double knit or stretch woven fabric. In this way the top section 33 can be made smaller than the maximum hip measurement, the fabric providing sufficient give so that the pant can be easily pulled over the hips. Using a size 9 pant as an example, the top section 33 can be made approximately 4% inches smaller than the maximum hip measurement to fit very closely to that portion of the body where it is worn regardless of slight variations in figures within a given size range. Any slight looseness of fit at the top section once the pant is donned is easily compensated by the elastic belt 60 without the formation of large, unsightly and uncomfortable scallops or pleats.

It is actually the elastic belt 60 that supports and holds the top section 33 around the hips, the top section 33 and belt 60 both conforming to the curvature of the body, and it is the tunnel 59 that holds the elastic belt in place preventing it from riding up above the top edge of the pant due to the curvature of the body which tends to move the elastic belt toward the waist, particularly in the back when one is sitting.

It is preferred that the belt 60 be relatively wide as it gives a better appearance and provides more surface area with which to support the pant. For example, in this embodiment, the belt is approximately 2 inches wide, the tunnel 59 and belt loops 51 and 52 being of a corresponding width. It is recommended that a belt at least 1% inches wide be used.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 there is shown a slightly different embodiment of this invention, the only difference being in the way the openings 55 and 56 at the left and right sides, respectively, of the top section 33 are formed. Using the left side as an example, instead of the fabric layer 34 of the left rear section 15 having a frontal flap 57 which is folded in and back and stitched as at 58 as with the first described embodiment (see FIG. 7), the fabric layer 34 of the left rear section 15 in this embodiment is joined, such as by switching 65, to the fabric layers 34 and 35 of the left front section 13 and the fabric layer 35 of the left rear section 15. A large slit 67 resembling a large buttonhole is cut in the side of the top section 33 just to the rear of the seam 21 with edges of the slit being stitched as at 71. The remaining features of the embodiments are the same.

Thus, this invention provides a novel pant construction and design primarily for women to be worn down on the hips below the waist and which is exceptionally form fitting, attractive, and comfortable.

Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A pant designed to be worn around the hips between the waist and the position of the hips of largest measurement comprising a body portion tapered inwardly toward the top to conform to the curvature of the hips and lower back portion and having a top section, the top section measurement being smaller than the maximum hip measurement for a given pant size, the top section being formed in a tunnel extending across the back substantially from one side of the pant to the other, the tunnel having openings at each side, an elastic belt threaded through the tunnel and extending continuously around the top section such that the back portion of the belt is hidden within the tunnel, and buckle means attached to the belt for securing the belt around the pant at least that portion of the pant above the crotch being made of a stretch fabric, and characterized as having no fly or placket opening.

2. The pant of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of belt loops spaced across the front of the top section, the belt being threaded through the belt loops as well as the tunnel.

3. The pant of claim 1 wherein the belt is at least 1% inches wide and the tunnel is of a corresponding size to receive the belt.

4. The pant of claim 1 wherein the openings are of a buttonhole type formed in the outer layer of the tunnel.

5. The pant of claim lwherein the openings are formed with an inwardly turned seam at the ends of the outer layer of the tunnel.

6. The pant of claim 1 wherein the top section is formed by folding the top of the body portion inwardly and downwardly, and stitching the bottom of the inward fold to the body portion.

i i I I! I6! 

1. A pant designed to be worn around the hips between the waist and the position of the hips of largest measurement comprising a body portion tapered inwardly toward the top to conform to the curvature of the hips and lower back portion and having a top section, the top section measurement being smaller than the maximum hip measurement for a given pant size, the top section being formed in a tunnel extending across the back substantially from one side of the pant to the other, the tunnel having openings at each side, an elastic belt threaded through the tunnel and extending continuously around the top section such that the back portion of the belt is hidden within the tunnel, and buckle means attached to the belt for securing the belt around the pant at least that portion of the pant above the crotch being made of a stretch fabric, and characterized as having no fly or placket opening.
 2. The pant of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of belt loops spaced across the front of the top section, the belt being threaded through the belt loops as well as the tunnel.
 3. The pant of claim 1 wherein the belt is at least 1 1/2 inches wide and the tunnel is of a corresponding size to receive the belt.
 4. The pant of claim 1 wherein the openings are of a buttonhole type formed in the outer layer of the tunnel.
 5. The pant of claim 1 wherein the openings are formed with an inwardly turned seam at the ends of the outer layer of the tunnel.
 6. The pant of claim 1 wherein the top section is formed by folding the top of the body portion inwardly and downwardly, and stitching the bottom of the inward fold to the body portion. 